We have been busy behind the scenes working on an exciting rebranding project. American Student Assistance is now Britebound™! While our mission remains the same, our new name reflects an even stronger vision and clearer dedication to helping all people find their pathways to bright futures and successful careers. (Read about our new brand launch. And, if you had our old newsletter location bookmarked, you can find the new URL here.)

Our new tagline is that we are here to help young people “find their why” and “find their way.” How will we do that? First, by acknowledging and confronting the facts—including the uncomfortable truth that woefully few students today are leaving school with certainty about their why or their way. And, by facing the reality that employers are struggling to find young workers with the specific skills needed for jobs. (Read about the skills shortages.) When we have a firm grasp on the scope of the challenges facing the nation, we can target our partnerships and activity to make the biggest impact in the most strategically important areas. That’s exactly what we’re doing.

One such example is our recent, multi-phase partnership with chef, restaurateur, and author Jamie Oliver. Together, we will develop and launch a mastery-based program aimed at helping millions of young people—including many not served by traditional education pathways—to develop both the confidence and the skills required for work. Jamie Oliver shared his view that, “Britebound is an amazing organization, and their vision is one I totally agree with: helping young people follow their own winding, wonderfully non-linear paths toward something extraordinary. Because that is me, too.” (Read K-12 Dive’s coverage of the partnership.)

Earlier this month, we hosted the Work-Based Learning Forum in Phoenix. These two packed days showcased exactly what’s possible when young people find their purpose. The lessons learned in our sessions about the value of work-based learning were driven home by the event’s other activities. From a thoughtful lunch prepared by aspiring young chefs, to a powerful performance by a youth mariachi ensemble and Diné hoop dancers—there was no shortage of inspiration. Our thanks to the East Valley Institute of Technology, the Children’s Museum of Phoenix, and to the students, educators, artists, and partners who made the gathering so memorable. (Read more about the event and check out our photos.)

Strong career readiness and exploration programs are invaluable, but they are still far from the norm. In fact, YouScience data shows that some 40% of programs struggle to find employer partnerships, and 66% of CTE leaders say students lack an awareness of their options. (Read the story.) Our work in 2026, and the work of our partners, is indeed cut out for us.

In closing, I wish each of you a successful and enterprising February. We can all feel confident that, one launch and partnership at a time, we are bringing the worlds of education and work closer together for the good of millions of American teens and young adults.

All the best,

Julie

P.S. - Want to connect? You can reach us at pivoted@britebound.org

ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY NEWS & RESEARCH

Parents Embrace Career and Technical Education (Inside Higher Ed, January 21, 2026)

The New American Dream Has Parents Easing Up On College Expectations for Their Kids: 35% Are Now Open to Trade School Instead (Yahoo! News, December 19, 2025)

3 Reasons Younger Generations Aren’t Ready for the Workforce — and the Skills They Need To Get There (Yahoo! Life, January 15, 2026)

Let’s Focus on Scaling Career and Future Readiness Programming for All Students (Medium.com, January 7, 2026)

Wolf River Youth Apprenticeship Program Gives High School Students a Head Start (TCH Daily News, January 12, 2026)

The US Wants More Apprenticeships. The UK Figured Out How to Make Them Coveted Roles (Hechinger Report, December 15, 2025)

Peering Into the Future: Look for These K-12 Education Trends in 2026 (EdSurge, January 15, 2026)

Colorado District Teaches Cutting-Edge Skills Needed for a Changing Workplace (The 74, January 7, 2026)

How ‘Open Mic’ Activities Can Improve Writing, Social Skills (K-12 Dive, January 14, 2026)

EVENTS

Finally, below is a list of upcoming events, and recaps of recent panel presentations and webinars, that elevate critical conversations in the youth career readiness space.

REGISTER TO ATTEND

• SXSW EDU Conference (Austin, March 9-12, 2026 - Learn more)

• ASU+GSV Summit (San Diego, April 12-15, 2026 - Learn more)

EVENT RECAPS

Lessons From The Road: Sparking Career and Self-Exploration in Middle School (Read the recap)

One of the biggest signs that things are changing? Postsecondary pathways that used to be considered inferior to the traditional college experience are now seeing substantial gains, both in popularity and reputation. This includes career-specific (or vocational) education. Our recent survey of 2,230 parents of middle and high school students shows that in 2025, over a third (35%) of parents believe that continuing technical education (CTE) is best suited for high-achieving students. This is a sharp increase from the 13% who agreed with that statement in 2019. Today, 58% of parents cite college as their top preference for their student after high school — down from 74% in 2019. Nevertheless, there is still work to do to address the anxiety and uncertainty felt by many parents as they attempt to provide teens with the information they’ll need to make the right choice. (Read about the report here.)

That’s why we’re doubling down on partnerships with people who are making a tangible difference in the lives of kids and families. We recently expanded, for example, our strategic partnership with FREE TO DREAM ™. The organization, founded by Academy and Grammy Award-winning artist, actor, and activist Common, is dedicated to empowering opportunity and systems-involved youth. (Read about our partnership and new DREAMKEEPER™ Resource Kit.) And, we’re doubling down on our philanthropy to ensure that no children miss out on the opportunities they need to make informed decisions about the future. (Read about our recent grants.)

Another sign of progress? A growing array of employers and organizations are willing to engage with and assist young people during their career exploration journeys. Jacksonville area teens, for example, are being offered internships with area employers like Mayo Clinic, Comcast, and Community First Credit Union. (Read the story.) As exciting as these opportunities are for young people, they also serve a greater social purpose. We see this exemplified by youth internships in New Mexico that are helping students stay enrolled and focused on their goals. Through placements at organizations addressing homelessness, the students themselves gain practical skills that prepare them for future self-sufficiency. (Read the story.)

That appetite for stronger connection points between school and work exists at the state level, too. A recent report out of California, for example, recommends the creation of a state Career Apprenticeship Bridge (CAB) Program to give more young people access to paid work experience. (Read about the proposal.) Undeniably, hurdles to widespread youth career exploration still exist—they are described well in this overview of Montana’s push to expand rural youth apprenticeship programs. (Read the story.) But the overall trajectory is one of expansion and inclusion. And we’re doubling down on our investment to ensure that no children miss out on the opportunities they need to make informed decisions about the future. (Read about our recent investments.)

Finally, I’m pleased to share my first episode as co-host of the One Question Podcast — our collaboration with author Michael Horn. Michael and I were joined by skateboarding legend Tony Hawk! He inspired us with stories of his own personal setbacks and explained that failure is often the best teacher. (Watch the podcast.)

With gratitude, I wish you a happy and restful holiday season and look forward to reconnecting with you in early 2026.

All the best,

Julie

P.S. - Want to connect? You can reach me at press@asa.org.

ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY NEWS & RESEARCH

New Mexico to Offer 3,000 Paid Internships to High School Students (KOB 4 News, December 9 2025)

Harnessing Technology To Prepare Students For Future Success (Forbes, November 6, 2025)

Palantir’s CEO Says ‘Every Single System is Parasitic.’ His Solution is to Hire Teenagers. (MSN.Com, November 12, 2025)

The Big Fail: Student Achievement Has Fallen Off a Cliff (New York Magazine, November 18, 2025)

AI Literacy Shouldn’t Wait for Middle School (K-12 Dive, November 12, 2025)

EVENTS

Finally, below is a list of upcoming events, and recaps of recent panel presentations and webinars, that elevate critical conversations in the youth career readiness space.

REGISTER TO ATTEND

• SxSW EDU Conference (Austin, March 9-12, 2026 - Learn more)

• ASU+GSV Summit (San Diego, April 12-15, 2026 - Learn more)

EVENT RECAPS

• Spotlight on MA: Two Lessons Learned from One State’s Career Readiness Ecosystem (Read the recap)

If you missed last month’s note from Jean, please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Julie Lammers and I am the new President and CEO of American Student Assistance. (You can read about my appointment and background here.) I am so honored to accept the reins of this highly regarded newsletter from Jean and kick off a new chapter of growth and learning together! Jean enjoyed sharing her hot takes on the latest happenings from around the world of career readiness each month, and I plan to do the same. I know everyone is busy, so we’ll be keeping the format the same — you can continue to enjoy the newsletter without any interruptions. Without further ado, here are my updates and highlights for the month.

Grantmaking is one avenue through which ASA supports the national career readiness infrastructure. It’s our way of saying, “We don’t know everything, so let’s invest in others who have a unique vision, and the capability and focus to make it happen.” To that end, I’m proud to announce that we recently awarded $8.48 million in grants to 13 mission-aligned, youth-serving nonprofits. The goal is to scale access to career readiness opportunities for all middle and high schoolers, while measurably improving career readiness outcomes — something we feel confident these organizations are well-positioned to do. (Read the announcement.) We feel that same confidence in our grantees, Colorado Succeeds, and Delaware-based Rodel — two organizations that are working tirelessly to expand opportunities for kids in their states. (Read their success stories.)

In another recent initiative, we empowered teens to award nearly $1,000,000 in grants to three community-based nonprofits through our Youth-Led Grantmaking Pilot Program. Our logic? While the recipients of the grants may be organizations, the people benefiting from the grants are teens, so their input is invaluable. (Find out which organizations they chose to support and read coverage of the pilot.)

In keeping with the idea of empowering teens, we checked in with our own cohort of summer youth interns — an impressive group of high school students who supported our workplace as they developed vital skills in PR, Research, Marketing, Tech, Philanthropy, and beyond. (Read their stories.) We also took the opportunity to recognize National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) in October by exploring how career-connected learning and mentoring can open doors for students with disabilities. (Read the piece.)

Zooming out to the national and state career readiness landscape, there is plenty happening that’s worth sharing! New research shows that a growing number of Gen Z youth are opting for trade school. (Read the story.) Also on the topic of Gen Z: a new report from Randstad Canada used findings from a survey of 11,250 workers globally, and 126 million job postings, to paint a nuanced picture of Gen Z’s worker traits, expectations, and the unique challenges they face. (Read about the report.)

The U.S. Department of Labor is aggressively expanding its funding of education pipelines connected to Registered Apprenticeship programs in Alabama and Colorado — each state has received $12.5 million in funding. (Read the story.) California high school senior Natalia Makhail was awarded a $10,000 Educational Merit Grant for her innovative work on how AI automation influences language, culture, and identity. (Read her story.) The Iowa Department of Education reports a 76% rise in work-based learning among high schoolers in the past two years. Some 45% of Iowa’s class of 2025 participated in work-based programming. (Read the story.) And, data from Rhode Island validates that career readiness programming and academic accomplishment go hand-in-hand. Across the state, students who took at least two CTE courses performed higher on national assessments, with higher four-year graduation rates. (Read the story.)

Thanks for joining me for my inaugural roundup of the latest career readiness news! I’m motivated to keep up the incredible leadership precedent set by Jean, and excited to see what ASA and our partners can accomplish by the end of the year. Until then, let’s all double down on our promise to improve the educational landscape for young people. They deserve it!

All the best,

Julie

P.S. - Want to connect? You can reach me at press@asa.org.

ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY NEWS & RESEARCH

American Student Assistance and The Possible Zone Announce Strategic Partnership to Develop Student-Centered Resources Designed to Help Young People Confidently Navigate Their Own Paths to Postsecondary Success (ASA Newsroom, November 3, 2025)

Number of Waterloo Students in Youth Apprenticeship Increasing (HNG News, October 14, 2025)

California Strengthens Its Pipeline for Good-paying Jobs, Providing $25 Million to Train More Than 22,000 Workers Through Apprenticeship Programs (Newsroom of Governor Gavin Newsom, October 20, 2025)

Youth Need Opportunities to Connect and Engage. A Job is a Good Place to Start. (The 74, October 1, 2025)

New National Prize Recognizes Top Middle and High Schools for Career Exploration (PR Newswire, October 8, 2025)

What My Students with Disabilities Taught Me About Career-Connected Learning (EdSurge, October 8, 2025)

EVENTS

Finally, below is a list of upcoming events, and recaps of recent panel presentations and webinars, that elevate critical conversations in the youth career readiness space.

REGISTER TO ATTEND

• 2025 Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) Annual Conference (Indianapolis, November 5-8 - Learn more)

• One Bead Career Expo (Boston, November 8, 12:00 - 2:00 PM - Learn more)

EVENT RECAPS

• Navigating the Next Decade of Learning: A Call to Collaboration (Read the recap)

Partnership is a topic that’s been on my mind lately. I witness every day how the optimal union of organizations, leaders, mentors, and educators can yield incredible opportunities for kids, while driving real change and powerful social impact.

To that end, I’m proud to announce a seven-year strategic partnership between ASA and NAF — an established national education nonprofit that has helped over 650,000 high school students prepare for the future. Together, we will work with school districts, employers, community organizations, and philanthropic partners to ensure more students have access to the kinds of experiences and support they need to take their next steps in life. (Read the news release. For more information on NAF and how to support or get involved, contact development@naf.org)

I’m also proud to share that we recently welcomed Education at Work (E@W) into the ASA family. E@W is an organization that has worked tirelessly for 15 years to deliver high-quality jobs and career readiness while helping to bring down the cost of education. Together, we will strive to expand their reach and presence in more cities. (Read the announcement and explore FAQs about the partnership.)

These partnerships and initiatives couldn’t come at a better time…

Forbes describes the postsecondary crossroads at which America now finds itself, emphasizing that ‘college for all’ simply doesn’t cut it anymore. (Read the story.) At the same time, The Burning Glass Institute (BGI) shares that, for the first time in modern history, a bachelor’s degree is no longer a reliable path to professional employment. (Read the report.) It’s a bold statement, but one that reinforces what so many educators, employers, parents, and young people themselves already know or suspect. We explored the topic of on-ramps to gainful employment in an award-winning Launchpad Jobs report that we co-authored with BGI — a partnership and project of which I’m deeply proud. (Read about the report.)

I see the power of collaboration in action through the countless career exploration and work-based learning programs emerging nationwide, all of which require close collaboration between educators, industry, and community. Here are some outstanding examples:

Teens in St. Lucie County are participating in a paid internship program with area employers, building vital skills in HR, construction, project management, and beyond. (Read the story.) A high school student and aspiring cardiologist was paired with a mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital, thanks to a new program that assigns professional mentors to students with an interest in the medical field. (Read her story.) Indiana continues to shine as a state committed to making apprenticeships a common offering in high school — using its ties with employers in engineering, law, manufacturing, and healthcare to do so. (Read the story.) The 74 reports that an Albuquerque high school’s innovative magnet program, Engineering the Future, is serving as a model for the whole of New Mexico, thanks to the school’s partnerships with local trade unions. (Read the story.) The same publication also offers a look inside Grammy Camp, a national program in which nearly 200 musically inclined teens are hosted by industry professionals, and gain hands-on experience in the music making, production, and recording businesses. (Watch the clip.) All these initiatives are only possible through the power of partnership.

As always, I’m thrilled to share with you the latest episodes of “Youth Career Readiness: The One-Question Podcast” — my collaboration with author Michael Horn. We’ve been busy! Most recently, we spoke with legendary actor and musician Ice-T about following those you admire. (Watch the podcast.) We spoke with Kathleen deLaski, founder of the Education Design Lab, former ABC News White House correspondent, and author of Who Needs College Anymore, about teens’ futures in an AI-driven world. (Watch the podcast.) We spoke with NFL Super Bowl champion Trey Flowers about the power of embracing mistakes. (Watch the podcast.) We also spoke with world-renowned pianist Lang Lang, who shared his advice for balancing work with passion (Watch the podcast), and with former NFL coach Jim Mora, who explained how kids can learn to be team players. (Watch the podcast.) You can also see our past interviews with well-known guests like Alec Ingold, Kensington Tallman, and others. (Explore the One Question library. Scroll down to the “Episodes” section of the page.)

In parting, I have some news of my own to share. It is with a mix of pride and gratitude that I announce that I am stepping down as the President and CEO of American Student Assistance, and passing the torch to my esteemed colleague Julie Lammers. (Read the full announcement.) Over the course of the last decade, I have dedicated my time to evolving ASA to become the nationally recognized youth career readiness organization it is today. Together, we have set millions of young people on a pathway to success through our Futurescape^® and EvolveMe^® platforms, and invested $150 million in mission-aligned funds and companies. This work has helped to bring about a more promising horizon for American kids. This new era is one in which every kid can have a say in deciding their postsecondary pursuits. It is one in which every kid can be empowered to find their Ikigai — a Japanese concept that describes the powerful intersection of what a person is good at, what the world needs, what they can be paid for, and what they love. (Learn more about this concept.) As I reflect on my own career, I can say with confidence that I found mine.

To all PivotED readers and to ASA’s supporters, I extend my gratitude for the support you have given to our shared mission. That work will continue, and I will continue to support ASA as Executive Chair and an advisor to ASA’s Board of Directors and the newly appointed President and CEO. I am excited to see how ASA will continue to deepen its impact under Julie’s leadership.

Sincerely,

Jean

ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY NEWS & RESEARCH

4 in 5 Hiring Managers Say High Schoolers Not Prepared for Workforce (K-12 Dive, September 22, 2025)

The Data Is In: Gen Z Face a More Competitive Job Market Than Their Predecessors (World Economic Forum, September 24, 2025)

Matched with Rhode Island’s Top Employers, Local Students Take First Steps Toward Future Careers (Brown University Newsroom, September 1, 2025)

Empowering Students Through Career Readiness Initiatives (Higher Education Digest, September 29, 2025)

New Report Reveals the Struggle Worldwide to Prepare Young People for Work (The 74, September 23, 2025)

How Modern Youth Apprenticeships Can Solve The U.S. Skills Gap (Forbes, September 8, 2025)

How One State Revamped High School to Reflect Reality: Not Everyone Goes to College (The Hechinger Report, August 12, 2025)

Rewriting the Roadmap: Jean Eddy on Reimagining Career Education (EdTech Digest, July 22, 2025)

EVENTS

Finally, below is a list of upcoming events, and recaps of recent panel presentations and webinars, that elevate critical conversations in the youth career readiness space.

REGISTER TO ATTEND

• SOCAP25 (San Francisco, October 27-29 - Learn more)

• 2025 Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) Annual Conference (Indianapolis, November 5-8 - Learn more)

EVENT RECAPS

• Navigating the Next Decade of Learning: A Call to Collaboration (Read the recap)

• A Perfect Launch: How ‘Launchpad Jobs’ Determine Career Success (Read the recap)

Our recent report, Extending the Runway: A 50-State Analysis of Middle School Career Exploration, found that while there is nationwide career exploration momentum, a number of states are leading the charge in showing what high-quality programming can look like for middle schoolers. (Read the report.) Together with Education Strategy Group, we recently launched the Middle School Career Exploration Impact and Learning Network. It is designed to accelerate the work of those states while sharing resources and inspiration for others. (Find out which states are inaugural members and what they are working on.)

In my scan of the summer education news, I see endless signs that more young people are finding their pathways. Some 337 seniors across New Jersey’s vocational and technical schools received their diplomas after earning associates degrees, setting a class record for the number of vocational students to earn a degree while still in high school. (Read the story.) A fund of $10 million has been made available for work-based learning initiatives in Connecticut. (Read the story.) USA Today reports on research that shows more teens are bucking the college-after-high-school trend in favor of options like vocational training that may be a better fit for their needs. On a related note, you may have also seen the video featuring Mike Rowe, host of Discovery Channel’s hit show Dirty Jobs and a longtime advocate for nondegree career pathways, with some advice for parents of teens. He shares insights from ASA’s research, as featured in USA Today, on his highly influential YouTube channel. (Watch the video.) (Read the story.)

And, Hechinger Report tells the story of high school students who gained hands-on professional experience at the American Museum of Natural History this spring through a mentoring program. One high school junior said of her experience researching microplastic pollution that she “fell in love with science.” (Read the story.) These are the stories that validate our mission to help more kids find their unique passions and pathways, and that validate the tireless work of those educators and school leaders who understand the power of career exploration.

Each month, I invite you to watch the latest episode of “Youth Career Readiness: The One-Question Podcast” — my collaboration with author Michael Horn. This month, we interviewed Alec Ingold, fullback for the Miami Dolphins and advocate for youth development. He explains how making a daily, actionable plan can help young people achieve their goals. (Watch the episode.) We also interviewed Kensington Tallman, the actress and singer who is the voice behind Riley in Pixar’s hit film, Inside Out 2. She urges young people to find their unique voice. (Watch the episode.) You can also explore our past interviews with well-known guests like Stevie Van Zandt, Lou Holtz, Yo-Yo Ma, Common, John Pankow, Tanya Wright, and others. (Explore the One Question library. Scroll down to the “Episodes” section of the page.)

I hope you all enjoy the remainder of your summer. I’m excited to see what the school year ahead holds for our young learners.

Sincerely,

Jean

P.S. - If you’d like to reach me directly, I’d love to hear from you. Email me at press@asa.org

ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY NEWS & RESEARCH

Kentucky One of Five States to Participate in Middle School Career Learning Network Grant Program (Northern Kentucky Tribune, July 3, 2025)

Middle School Career-Connected Learning Can Help Students Look to the Future (Medium.com, May 12, 2025)

Employers Have a Huge Opportunity to Guide Gen Z Toward Good Jobs. Here's What They Can Do. (Business Insider, June 20, 2025)

Belmont University Hosts Summer Program for Local High Schoolers in Bid to Diversify Student Body (WPLN News, June 22, 2025)

Majority of High Schoolers Say They Don’t Feel Prepared for Post-graduation (HR Dive, June 19, 2025)

Why One NYC Teen Chose a Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Over After-school Hangouts (Chalkbeat, June 20, 2025)

Crayon Color Picker and Tornado: Teachers Share the Funniest Jobs Students Want (Education Week, June 16, 2025)

3 Ways Leaders Develop College and Career Pathways Designed to Serve All Students (Education Week, June 2, 2025)

EVENTS

Finally, below is a list of upcoming events, and recaps of recent panel presentations and webinars, that elevate critical conversations in the youth career readiness space.

REGISTER TO ATTEND

• Uncharted Learning National Summit (Chicago, July 8-10 - Learn more)

• Big Picture Learning - Big Bang Conference 2025 (Providence, RI, July 21-25 - Learn more)

• 2025 Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) Annual Conference (Indianapolis, November 5-8 - Learn more)

EVENT RECAPS

• Are Kids Getting What They Want and Need from Career Exploration? (Read the recap)

The school summer holidays are nearly upon us, and the post-school future may be the furthest thing from many kids’ minds. Yet, ASA is continually interested in learning about the postsecondary plans teens are making, who is influencing those decisions, and how teens are thinking about their futures. We know that how young people plan, when they start planning, and who informs them along the way are factors that can have a profound impact on their eventual career choices and chances of postsecondary success. These factors are all of increasing importance at a time when, Getting Smart reminds us, some 65% of jobs will change significantly every 5-7 years and the value of credentials is evolving rapidly. (Read the story.)

To that end, we recently published the results of a new nationwide survey in which we asked more than 3,000 7th-12th-graders about their postsecondary ambitions. Among the most interesting highlights? Teens’ interest in college is down, while nondegree pathways are becoming more popular. Parents are among teens’ biggest influencers, but they remain skeptical of nondegree options. And, we uncovered some interesting findings about how location and other factors may influence postsecondary choices. (Read about the research.) In addition, for young people who want or need to join the workforce straight out of high school, I invite you to learn about the Launchpad Jobs that offer the most promising career paths for workers without degrees. (Join us for our upcoming webinar on this topic.)

It’s really little surprise to me that more kids are considering nondegree pathways; we have seen so much nationwide momentum around the proliferation of high-quality pathways and a much deeper focus on transferrable skills. In Massachusetts, for example, Innovation Career Pathways have been expanded to 20 new schools, meaning even more students will be able to explore careers, participate in work-based learning, and take technical and advanced courses. (Read the story.) A law has been signed in South Carolina encouraging more students to participate in work-based learning. (Read the story.) The state of Wisconsin saw a 14% increase in youth apprenticeships in 2024-2025. (Read the story.) And, some 32 states now require high schools to offer at least one computer science course, speaking to the urgent need for all young people to possess a strong tech skillset before they leave school. (Read the story.)

Each month, I invite you to watch the latest episode of “Youth Career Readiness: The One-Question Podcast” — my collaboration with author Michael Horn. This month, we interviewed legendary guitarist Stevie Van Zandt, best known for playing guitar in Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band. He explains how developing a craft can change the course of a young person’s life. (Watch the episode.) You can also explore our past interviews, with well-known guests like Lou Holtz, Yo-Yo Ma, Common, John Pankow, Tanya Wright, and others. (Explore the One Question library. Scroll down to the “Episodes” section of the page.)

I wish you a relaxing summer holiday period. With our minds fresh and rested, we can continue in our mission of helping more kids realize a bright and successful future!

Sincerely,

Jean

P.S. - If you’d like to reach me directly, I’d love to hear from you. Email me at press@asa.org

ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY NEWS & RESEARCH

Gen Z, Alpha Embrace Trade Schools More as They Sour on College (Newsweek, May 22, 2025)

What’s Needed to Strengthen Career and College Pathway Commitments? (K12 Dive, May 12, 2025)

Dual Enrollment Numbers are Rising. Colleges Want Them to Keep Growing (EdSurge, May 9, 2025)

College Uncovered: The Old College Try (The Hechinger Report, May 15, 2025)

University of Alabama Practically Eliminates Tuition Costs for Dual Enrollment (Tuscaloosa Thread, May 15, 2025)

These School Districts are Bucking the National Math Slump (The Hechinger Report, April 28, 2025)

Video Game Design Boosts Students’ Literacy Skills (eSchool News, May 14, 2025)

Can Middle Schoolers Handle College? This San Jose School is Finding Out (Cal Matters, May 14, 2025)

Phila. High Schools to Work with Penn Career, College Readiness Programs for Underserved Communities (The Daily Pennsylvanian, April 7, 2025)

EVENTS

Finally, below is a list of upcoming events, and recaps of recent panel presentations and webinars, that elevate critical conversations in the youth career readiness space.

REGISTER TO ATTEND

• Horizons Summit (New Orleans, June 10-11, 2025 - Learn more)

• WEBINAR - Launchpad Jobs: Achieving Career and Economic Success Without a Degree (June 25, 2025, 12:00 PM ET - Learn more)

• The CAPS Network Summer Huddle (Kansas City, June 23-25, 2025 - Learn more)

• Uncharted Learning National Summit (Chicago, July 8-10 - Learn more)

• Big Picture Learning - Big Bang Conference 2025 (Providence, RI, July 21-25 - Learn more)

EVENT RECAPS

• Building the Bridge: Investing in the Future of Career-Connected Learning (Read the recap)

Amidst seemingly unprecedented turmoil in the education space, I'm thankful for all of the many ways in which ASA fulfills its mission to foster future success for all young people, in and beyond the classroom. For example, we recently awarded $17 million in grants to nonprofits, with a goal of helping middle and high school students achieve postsecondary education and career success. (Read the story.) We also teamed up with nonprofit Building Hope to give the ASA Career Education Champion Awards to two schools on opposite sides of the country. (Read the story.) And, we’re reaching millions of teens directly through our free EvolveMe career readiness platform (visit the site), which now includes IBM SkillsBuild to help young people build in-demand skills in areas such as AI, UX design, and cybersecurity. (Read the story.) I'm heartened to see the momentum being generated--across the ecosystem of caring adults who support young people--to improve the way kids move through K-12 education and into postsecondary pursuits. I’m always thrilled to be able to share those stories with you in this newsletter. Here are some highlights:

The Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) has published a book, Successful Middle School Transitions, which educators can use to ensure every student finds their place. (Learn more.) More than 150 students and teachers were welcomed to NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland to learn about technical careers. (Read the story.) Amazon has awarded $16 million in college tuition and paid internships to 400 U.S. high school seniors through its Amazon Future Engineer program. (Read the story.) New America reflects on what it takes to build high-quality youth apprenticeships. (Read their story.) And Getting Smart explains how students can benefit from credentials, not just grades. (Read the story.)

Each month, I invite you to watch the latest episode of “Youth Career Readiness: The One-Question Podcast” — my collaboration with author Michael Horn. This month, we interviewed former college football coach, Lou Holtz. We asked him what career and life advice he would share with young people. Lou replied by offering three simple rules anyone can use to help them make good choices. (Watch the episode.) You can also explore our past interviews, with well-known guests like Yo-Yo Ma, Common, John Pankow, Tanya Wright, and others. (Explore the One Question library. Scroll down to the “Episodes” section of the page.)

In closing, I encourage everyone to do what you can, no matter how small the act, to engage young people in their future planning.

Sincerely,

Jean

P.S. - If you’d like to reach me directly, I’d love to hear from you. Email me at press@asa.org

ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY NEWS & RESEARCH

Middle School Career-connected Learning Can Help Students Look to the future (Medium.com, May 12, 2025)

The DeBruce Foundation Launches 2025 Graduation Toolkit to Empower Career Success (DeBruce Foundation Newsroom, April 28, 2025)

Data Shows Growing AI Adoption in K-12 (eSchool News, April 18, 2025)

Hundreds of Students Get Hands-on Experience with Science Projects (RecordNet, April 17, 2025)

Why Some Schools Are Ditching Class Rank and Weighted GPAs (Education Week, April 14, 2025)

Schools Push Career Ed Classes ‘For All,’ Even Kids Heading to College (The Hechinger Report, April 21, 2025)

Maryland is Still in a Literacy Crisis (K-12 Dive, April 16, 2025)

More High Schoolers are Taking College Classes — but No Surprise Which Students Benefit Most (Cal Matters, April 16, 2025)

Area Middle Schoolers Plan for the Future at CEANCI Career Fair (WIFR, March 25, 2025)

Why This School System Is Integrating AI Literacy With Algebra 1 (Education Week, April 16, 2025)

EVENTS

Finally, below is a list of upcoming events, and recaps of recent panel presentations and webinars, that elevate critical conversations in the youth career readiness space.

REGISTER TO ATTEND

• Horizons Summit (New Orleans, June 10-11, 2025 - Learn more)

• The CAPS Network Summer Huddle (Kansas City, June 23-25, 2025 – Learn more)

• Uncharted Learning National Summit (Chicago, July 8-10 - Learn more)

• Big Picture Learning - Big Bang Conference 2025 (Providence, RI, July 21-25 - Learn more)

EVENT RECAPS

• Recalculating Routes from Education to Careers (Read the recap)

• Getting Real: Skills-based Hiring: Insights from HolonIQ Global Skills Week (Read the recap)

The roadtrip is truly a great American pastime; the idea of an open expanse of horizon stretching out before you—replete with possibility and excitement—is a vision that inspires us all. And each young person, no matter their challenges or goals, deserves to be inspired by the idea of their own unique ‘roadtrip’ through their education and a career. To further this vision, ASA recently entered into a multi-year initiative with Roadtrip Nation that will motivate tens of millions of students and parents by following three young people on a multi-week, national roadtrip. During the experience, the trio will meet role models and mentors while refining their sense of purpose. In order to bring the power of exploration to even more young people, our two organizations are also working with Strada to deliver a Virtual Roadtrip. The Virtual Roadtrip will provide middle grades-appropriate stories about career exploration, and digital generative AI experiences focused on both career exploration and experimentation for middle and high schoolers. (Learn more about the Roadtrip and the Virtual Roadtrip.)

In other exploration-focused news, the state of Washington has moved from a ‘patchwork’ of career exploration platforms, to a new, statewide postsecondary planning site that will be used by students across all 295 school districts. (Read the story.) Indiana is seeing the payoff from a two-and-a-half-year Department of Education grant aimed at better preparing its young people for the future. District Administration writes of the grant’s success: “This year there’s a fresh energy in the lead up to graduation at 16 Indiana school districts because their students have more high-value postsecondary credentials and more high-quality work-based learning experiences than ever before.” (Read the story.) Education solutions provider Wayfinder recently released a report that demonstrates why, despite rapid technological advances, human skills matter more than ever. (Learn more.) All of these innovations are particularly encouraging at a time when troubling new research shows that over four million U.S. Gen Z youth are neither in school nor the workforce, with experts blaming the status quo of higher education, and a “system of broken promises.” (Read the story.)

To round out the news, I invite you to listen to a podcast I recorded last month with education strategists Julian Alssid and Kaitlin LeMoine over at WorkForce. We talked about the tangible impacts of career exploration programming on middle schoolers. (Listen to the podcast.) I also urge you to bookmark the One Question podcast, where my co-collaborator Michael Horn and I have the ongoing pleasure of interviewing world-famous artists, thinkers, and role-models on a wide array of career-related topics. (Find the entire One Question episode library here.) Most recently, we interviewed actress Kristine Sutherland—known for her role in Buffy the Vampire Slayer—who spoke about staying true to your interests (watch the episode); and actor John Pankow of Mad About You, who emphasized the power of gratitude (watch the episode).

This spring, I wish us all the resilience to persevere in our proverbial roadtrips. No matter your age or stage of life, learning and growth must never end. There’s always something incredible on the horizon if you know where to look.

Sincerely,

Jean

P.S. - If you’d like to reach me directly, I’d love to hear from you. Email me at press@asa.org

ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY NEWS & RESEARCH

New Math Problems Won’t Solve Our Nation’s Math Problem (eSchool News, March 6, 2025)

American Student Assistance Awards More Than $17 Million in Grants to Nonprofits Helping Middle and High Schoolers Achieve Postsecondary Education and Career Success (PRNewswire, March 26, 2025)

From Classroom to Career: An Educator’s Guide to Launching a Profession-Based Learning Program (LinkedIn, March 17, 2025)

Bill Targets Work-Based Learning Opportunities (CBIA, March 6, 2025)

Community Colleges Eye State Funding for Dual Enrollment Expansion (Lansing City Pulse, March 21, 2025)

WEGive NorCal Launches “Empower the Future” Benefit to Transform Foster Teens Into Entrepreneurs (Asian Journal, March 1, 2025)

70% of Teachers See Online Learning as Critical for Workforce Readiness in 2025, Penn Foster Group Survey Finds (Penn Foster Newsroom, March 4, 2025)

Transfr Launches the First XR-Based, Multi-Modal Solution for Career Exploration (Business Wire, February 4, 2025)

EVENTS

Finally, below is a list of upcoming events and related programming that elevate critical conversations in the youth career readiness space.

• ASU+GSV Summit (San Diego, April 6-9, 2025. Learn more about the programming here)

• Exploring the Intersection of Technology and Career Readiness at ASU+GSV Summit 2025, by Rilwan Meeran (Read the post)

• Shaping the Future of Youth Career Readiness: ASA at ASU+GSV Summit 2025, by Jean Eddy (Read the post)

REGISTER TO ATTEND

• Horizons Summit (New Orleans, June 10-11, 2025 - Learn more)

• Big Picture Learning - Big Bang Conference 2025 (Providence, RI, July 21-25 - Learn more)

I often share with you the stories of specific schools, communities, and organizations that are doing a fantastic job bridging the gap between education and the workforce. This month, I’m excited to zoom out a little and share that ASA has teamed up with national nonprofit Bellwether to launch a new report. In it, we highlight 10 states that have significantly progressed work-based learning initiatives in recent years. These states are following unique approaches to creating and fortifying work-based learning programs and policies, but they adhere to a few common principles. At the core of each state’s success? A belief in an expanded definition of work-based learning; one that focuses as much on accountability and reporting as it does on the ins and outs of programs. (Read the report.)

Work-based learning offers us a chance to build real equity into the education and employment landscapes by connecting the two. Yet, a recent story of two friends demonstrates that when programs are too sporadic or small in scale, some kids thrive while others needlessly miss out. (Read the story.) I’m therefore encouraged to see bi-partisan examples from states that are expanding access to pathways like apprenticeship and technical education, such as the recent legislation introduced in New Mexico and Kansas. (Read the story.) I’m excited to see tech companies like Transfr Trek making strides towards accessible and engaging digital career exploration and support for many more kids. (Read their announcement.) And, I’m moved to see more schools and organizations rethinking the nature, value, and purpose of credentials — a concept explored by my colleague Judy Goldstein in her recent article. (Read the article.) In light of so much activity that’s transforming the status quo, I truly believe that this is an exciting time to work in and around education.

In closing, I invite you to check out what’s been happening on the One Question Podcast series — my collaboration with author Michael Horn. Recently, Michael and I were joined by Roy Spence, the founder of the Purpose Institute and the Make It Movement. Roy explains why ‘What do you want to be?’ is simply the wrong question to ask of kids. (Watch our interview.) In another episode, we were joined by Aaron Rasmussen, the founder of MasterClass, and reminded to help kids look for the common themes that connect their diverse interests. (Watch our interview.) And most recently, we spoke with actor John Pankow of the hit TV series Mad About You. John talked about harnessing the power of gratitude and explained how this mindset has helped him in his career journey. (Watch our interview.)

Sincerely,

Jean

P.S. - If you’d like to reach me directly, I’d love to hear from you. Email me at press@asa.org

ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY NEWS & RESEARCH

$1.5 Million in Cash Prizes for 25 High School Skilled Trades Teachers (Harbor Freight, March 1, 2025)

The Enrollment Cliff: How Fewer Applicants Are Reshaping Higher Education (Forbes, February 9, 2025)

Schools Must Connect with the Working World to Inspire Students’ Careers (Forbes, February 11, 2025)

Computer Science for All: This District Leader Is Making It a Reality (Education Week, February 5, 2025)

Skipping Chapters: How Decreasing Reading Stamina Impacts College Readiness (Central Times, January 28, 2025)

Why Rural America Should Lead the CTE Charge to Reimagine Schools (The Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools Newsroom, February 1, 2025)

Boys Think School Is a Waste of Time. Career Pathways Prove Them Wrong. (Education Week, January 27, 2025)

Large Scholarship, Health Care Internship Offer ‘Great Opportunity’ for Kaua’i Students (KAUA’I NOW, February 8, 2025)

The K-12 Outlook for 2025: Shifting Policy, Tech Landscapes Bring New Challenges (K-12 Dive, January 31, 2025)

CTE Spotlight: Work-based Learning Program (Shelby County Post, February 6, 2025)

EVENTS

Finally, below is a list of upcoming events, and recaps of recent panel presentations and podcasts, that elevate critical conversations in the youth career readiness space.

REGISTER TO ATTEND

• ASU+GSV Summit (San Diego, April 6-9, 2025 - Learn more)

• Horizons Summit (New Orleans, June 10-11, 2025 - Learn more)

EVENT RECAPS

• Moving Teens from “Meh” to Motivated in School and Life (Read the recap)

• “Live in the Along”: Celebrating What School Could Look Like (Read the recap)

“Who you know” has always mattered, and the social capital young people possess is every bit as important as their grades and formal achievements. ASA research shows that 40% of jobs today are secured through referrals and personal connections. (Read the story.) Yet, for too long, very few young people—typically those from advantaged backgrounds—have had access to powerful social capital. This inequity is felt acutely in places like Dallas County, Texas, where local children have a two-in-three chance of not earning a living wage when they grow up. (Read the story.)

The social capital situation is improving, and we’re proud to be a part of that change. Most recently, EvolveMe®, our free digital career readiness platform used by nearly two million teens, has been integrated with mentorship-matching nonprofit, UStrive, where nearly 400,000 interactions have been facilitated between mentors and mentees. (Read the story.) Looking nationwide, we also see that more organizations are partnering with school districts to offer kids out-of-class learning opportunities. That means a growing number of kids, regardless of their backgrounds, can connect with professionals, mentors, and role models, and in doing so, they can build and expand their own networks.

Social capital is particularly powerful for young people who face complex challenges in their lives. We see this in action with Spartan Project SEARCH: a collaboration between Michigan State University and Ingham County School Districts that offers immersive work-based learning opportunities to young people with disabilities. (Read the story.) And, we see it through a new, evidence-based training program for justice-involved youth in Oklahoma. (Read the story.)

To see how effective mentorship can be in giving kids social capital, look no further than the story of Nita Simpson and her non-profit, Battle Tested Kids. (Read Nita’s story.) And, read about how young students in the Midwest have been connecting with Air Force pilots, firefighters, and other professional mentors. (Read the story). I urge educators, employers, and parents who are interested in learning more about mentoring programs to check out MENTOR’s guidebook, Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring. (Get the guide.)

In closing, I invite you to listen to the latest episodes of The One Question Podcast—my collaboration with author Michael Horn. Most recently, we were thrilled to be joined by world-class musician Yo-Yo Ma, who explained that young people need to start early in making deposits in their proverbial knowledge banks. (See our interview.) We also spoke to journalist and CNBC anchor Jon Fortt, who shared thoughts on preparing kids for the AI era. (See our interview.)

Sincerely,

Jean

P.S. - If you’d like to reach me directly, I’d love to hear from you. Email me at press@asa.org

ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY NEWS & RESEARCH

21 Priorities for Student Success and Learning in 2025 (eSchool News, January 3, 2025)

Internship Program Called ‘Win, Win’ for Santa Fe Students and City (Santa Fe New Mexican, January 4, 2025)

Charlottesville High School Students Pair Up with UVA PhD Students for Mentorship (29 News, December 11, 2024)

National Nonprofit to Bring Mentorship Program to Detroit High Schools (Bridge Detroit, December 30, 2024)

Canarelli Middle School Students Explore Careers at UNR Extension (CCSD Newsroom, December 2, 2024)

The Best Jobs That Don’t Require a College Degree, According to New Research (CNBC, January 17, 2025)

Indigenous Students Count: Challenges and Promising Practices (Education Commission of the States Newsroom, November 14, 2024)

What Does “Youth Apprenticeship” Mean? The Answer, According to Each State (New America, November 21, 2024)

EVENTS

Finally, below is a list of upcoming events, and recaps of recent panel presentations and podcasts, that elevate critical conversations in the youth career readiness space.

REGISTER TO ATTEND

• SXSW EDU (Austin, March 3-6, 2025 - Learn more)

• ASU+GSV Summit (San Diego, April 6-9, 2025 - Learn more)

• Horizons Summit (New Orleans, June 10-11, 2025 - Learn more)

EVENT RECAPS

• “Live in the Along”: Celebrating What School Could Look Like (Read the recap)

• Launchpad Jobs: So Much More Than a First Step (Read the recap)

• When it Comes to Career Exploration, Are States Making Middle School Count? (Read the recap)

• Empowering Futures: The Transformative Power of Entrepreneurship in Education (Read the recap)

• Town Hall Recap: The Landscape of Credentialing Experiences (Read the recap)

• Revolutionizing Career Education: Insights and Investment Trends Shaping the Future (Read the recap)

Our new report, published jointly with the Burning Glass Institute, yields exciting insights into the early career decisions being made by young people and how their first moves out of high school are setting them up (or not) for career success. I invite you to read the full report for all the details (read the report), but at a high level we’ve learned that:

• Some 38% of young people are leaving school and going directly into the workforce;

• One in five workers without a degree are out-earning the median college graduate;

• Two million nondegree workers are earning more than $100,000 per year.

The big takeaway? The first job a young person holds can be incredibly powerful in dictating the rest of their career arc. The ideal jobs, which we call launchpad jobs, are those that offer strong benefits and earning potential. Even more importantly, though, these jobs offer upskilling, learning, and even credentialing opportunities, and they have a clear upward trajectory or connection to other workforce areas. If you are the parent, guardian, teacher, or mentor of a child, these career areas are worth exploring together.

Looking across the career readiness landscape, I see that this has proven to be an incredibly busy season with many promising initiatives underway. Rural schools in Iowa are doing a great job of using work-based learning to prepare kids for the future, and are leaning on strong regional partnerships to help deliver it. (Read the story.) Education Week reports on five teens in Indiana whose lives have been changed by powerful youth internships in veterinary medicine, real estate, marketing, and beyond. (Read their stories.) The city of Charlotte has partnered with Bank of America to equip 1,600 teens and young adults with essential workplace skills. (Read the story.) The Department of Education has released a toolkit to help teachers and schools use AI safely and ethically in the classroom. (Read the announcement.) And, voters around the country weighed in on a number of state ballot measures that will impact K-12 policy for the foreseeable future. (Read about the measures.)

I’m also pleased to share with you my new podcast series, titled Youth Career Readiness: The One Question Podcast. In each episode, author Michael B. Horn and myself speak with celebrities and luminaries who share their pearls of wisdom for young people. Our latest episode features Emily Oster, a professor, author, and CEO of ParentData, who urges young people to focus on what they’ll do—not on what they’ll be—in a career.

The Future of Education

Emily Oster: Focus on What You'll Do, Not Be, in Your Career

Emily Oster, professor, author, and CEO of ParentData, joins Michael and Jean to share which information she thinks is most valuable in selecting a career. She advises career explorers to get a good understanding of what a person in a particular job does from day to day and offers a range of ways to gather this crucial data…

Listen now

a year ago · 1 like · Michael B. Horn and Jean Eddy

And don’t miss our past episodes with award-winning artist and founder Common (watch it here), award-winning actor and founder Tanya Wright (watch it here), and medical doctor and professional athlete Julie Foucher (watch it here).

I wish you all a happy holiday season, and I look forward to seeing you back here in 2025 with more exciting news!

Sincerely,

Jean

P.S. - If you’d like to reach me directly, I’d love to hear from you. Email me at press@asa.org

ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY NEWS & RESEARCH

How High School Graduates Can Improve Their Earnings Potential (The New York Times, November 21, 2024)

American Student Assistance Honored as a Winner in Four Categories for the 4th Annual Anthem Awards (ASA Newsroom, November 19, 2024)

Trendline: Graduation and Career Readiness (K-12 Dive, November 1, 2024)

Massachusetts, Famed for Tough School Standards, Rethinks its Big Test (The New York Times, October 28, 2024)

SC Sending K-12 Schools $2M to Lock up Student Cellphones (SC Daily Gazette, November 8, 2024)

Hiring a Job and Navigating a Career Begin in K-12 Schools (Forbes, November 1, 2024)

Calais Work-based Learning Student Gets a Flavor for the Food Service Industry (TAPinto Parsippany, November 8, 2024)

Springpod Raises $2.5M in New Funding to Expand Virtual Work-Based Learning (EdTech Review, October 29, 2024)

EVENTS

Finally, below is a list of upcoming events, and recaps of recent panel presentations and podcasts, that elevate critical conversations in the youth career readiness space.

REGISTER TO ATTEND

• SXSW EDU (Austin, March 3-6, 2025 - Learn more)

• ASU+GSV Summit (San Diego, April 6-9, 2025 - Learn more)

EVENT RECAPS

• Investing for Systems Change in Education (Read the recap)

Did you know that students can now “walk” through the office of a real company, shadow an employee, learn about jobs they never knew existed, and discover what skills those jobs require — all from a laptop or mobile device? This is exactly what’s happening with thousands of EvolveMe student members, who, through Worktour activities in the platform, are being introduced to over 20,000 high-demand careers. (Read the story.)

Once students find a career cluster that is a good match and that excites them, the ideal scenario is to pursue a work-based learning experience in that area to start developing the requisite skills. I call this the “ideal scenario,” because the research shows that such career-connected learning is an effective way to get kids informed, inspired, and connected. (Read the research.) It’s also what students themselves want. (Read even more research!) Optimally, some of this work happens in collaboration with one or more employers. However, for many young people, that next piece is challenging, because, unfortunately, not nearly enough employers are providing work-based learning programs for high school students. Research shows that only 5% of internships are available exclusively to high schoolers, and 32% are available to high school or college students. (Read the story.) The work-based learning gap isn’t just bad news for teens, but also has devastating ramifications for the broader workforce, where specific skills are in high demand and short supply. In healthcare alone, for example, the World Health Organization predicts a shortage of some 10 million healthcare workers by 2030—a number that could be dramatically reduced by getting young people inspired about and involved in healthcare work. (Read the story.)

Despite the work-based learning barriers we face today, I am excited to read about employers and organizations who are breaking the mold. In Indiana, for example, an employer-led coalition has plans to roll out as many as 50,000 high school apprenticeships. (Read the story.) The High School Freshwater Summer Scholars internship program at UW-Green Bay is giving teens a unique opportunity to participate in vital ecology research that may help them jumpstart careers in the field. (Read the story.) The Berrien Talent Collaborative in Michigan is investing $500,000 in high school apprenticeships, working alongside some of the area’s biggest employers like Whirlpool and Corewell Health. (Read the story.) And, Penn State Berks is helping to inspire and prepare the next generation of future engineers through its Engineering Ahead Program—now in its ninth year. (Read the story.)

It’s true that, despite some stellar employers and programs, there is still a sizable mismatch between need and opportunity in the work-based learning space. This is a challenge that can be solved and ASA is striving to create major momentum in the landscape. To that end, I am proud to close out this issue by sharing details of a new $4 million funding opportunity for five like-minded organizations that are working to build and launch youth career-connected learning initiatives. If your organization fits the bill, I encourage you to apply. (*See the details at the end of this issue. Don’t miss the October 17th deadline!)

Sincerely,

Jean

P.S. - If you’d like to reach me directly, I’d love to hear from you. Email me at press@asa.org

Youth Career Readiness: The One Question Podcast

I am thrilled to invite all parents, guardians, and educators to a new podcast I’ve launched with my co-host, author and thought leader Michael Horn! In the show, we are joined by a wide array of experts and influencers in the arts, sciences, and beyond to tackle the questions that are on adults’ minds as they prepare their children for life beyond school. In our first two episodes, Michael and I were joined by award-winning artist Common, followed by actress, author, and entrepreneur Tanya Wright. See you there! (Listen to the podcast.)

ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY NEWS & RESEARCH

How Do Today’s High Schoolers Fare As They Enter Adulthood? View the Data. (Education Week, September 30, 2024)

A Non Profit Organization Empowering Visually Impaired Students - Project Visionary (AP News, October 4, 2024)

How the ‘Opportunity Gap’ Impacts Success in Life (The Hechinger Report, October 3, 2024)

Career-connected Learning Yields Positive Impact on Learners’ Future Plans (K-12 Dive, September 19, 2024)

Want to Hone Students’ Critical Thinking Skills? Give Them More Opportunities for Input. (K-12 Dive, October 3, 2024)

Project Lead The Way Inspires STEM Learning at Brunswick Middle School Through MCCC (Medina County Life, October 2, 2024)

The Panera Bread Foundation Announces 2025 Grant Open Application Period (PR Newsire, October 3, 2024)

EVENTS

Finally, below is a list of upcoming events and recaps of recent panel presentations and podcasts that elevate critical conversations in the youth career readiness space.

REGISTER TO ATTEND

• Culture Shifting Summit 2024 (New York, October 24-25 – Learn more)

• SOCAP 2024 (San Francisco, October 28-30 – Learn more)

• AMLE 2024 (Nashville, November 6-9 – Learn more)

EVENT RECAPS

• Back to Basics: Three Ways to Unlock Student Success (Read the recap)

• From Ikigai to Internships (and More): Giving Kids Their Power Back (Read the recap)

Funding Opportunity to Scale Demonstrated Impact in Career-Connected Learning

Applications are now open for Round Four of the Catalyze Challenge. Round Four will award a total of $4 million to up to five organizations that are ready to scale transformative direct service career-connected learning solutions for learners aged 11-22. The Challenge will focus on two themes: career exploration for young adolescents, and activating industry partnerships. If that sounds like you, or an organization you know, you are invited to apply before October 17th. Don’t miss this opportunity to join a national community of career-connected learning practitioners. (Find more details and apply here.)

Workers need them. Employers want them, but three out of four say they can’t find enough new college graduates who have them. Schools sometimes struggle to teach them. What are they? Durable skills, of course. This skills cluster, deeply connected to social emotional learning (SEL), is defined by America Succeeds as “the competencies used to share knowledge, including critical thinking and collaboration, as well as character traits like fortitude and leadership.” These were long thought to be skills that people either had or didn’t have. Thankfully, we know better now. At ASA, we’ve just published a new resource for employers that details best practices for reimagining work-based learning to include a focus on durable, social emotional skills that are in-demand in workplaces everywhere. (Read the report.) Encouragingly, many employers are, in fact, making a shift away from degree-based hiring, and towards skills-based hiring. In doing so, they’re opening up a world of opportunity for millions of young Americans.

States like Ohio, for example, are working to make it easier for workers without four-year degrees to land federal jobs. (Read the story.) Career and technical schools, like this one in Illinois, are launching to ensure that more young people have a path to prosperity, whether or not they pursue a four-year degree. (Read the story.) In D.C., the pathway from sitting in a classroom to teaching in one has just become easier and more affordable, thanks to a groundbreaking teaching apprenticeship program that just launched. (Read the story.) Indiana is looking to Switzerland—long known to be a world-leader in the apprenticeships space—as it explores the creation of thousands of student apprenticeships in healthcare, manufacturing, IT, and beyond. (Read the story.) And, one highly determined teen from Charlotte had a truly life-changing summer interning at NASA through the STEM Enhancement in Earth Science Summer Intern Program. (Read George’s story.)

I wish all administrators, educators, and parents a hearty welcome back to what promises to be another fantastic school year! You continue to inspire us at ASA to do more and better for American youth. I’ll leave you with words from the young NASA intern in the story above, because he captured our collective mission perfectly: “I hope my peers see my story and take into consideration that once you find your interest, with enough passion and determination, everything is possible.” Now, let’s get to work helping more kids find their passions.

Sincerely,

Jean

P.S. - If you’d like to reach me directly, I’d love to hear from you. Email me at press@asa.org

ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY NEWS & RESEARCH

Our Interview With "TIME's 2024 Kid of the Year," Inventor of a Cancer-fighting Soap (NPR, August 16, 2024)

The State of Career Exploration in Middle School (Education Commission of the States, July 25, 2024)

‘Stepping Into Real Life’: Baldwin County Utility Internship Inspires Students to Get Serious About Working (Gulf Coast Media, August 19, 2024)

When Was the Golden Age of American K-12 Education? And How Can We Tell? (The74, July 2, 2024)

Youth Market Day Encourages Farming and Entrepreneurship Among Youth (Patch.com, August 1, 2024)

New Internships Program Gives High School Students a Hands-on Education in Art (UC Santa Cruz News Center, August 14, 2024)

‘TGIF Time-saver’: 3 Predictions for the 2024-2025 School Year (District Administration, August 8, 2024)

State Accountability Systems Must Look Beyond College & Career Readiness (The74, June 24, 2024)

OPINION: As Federal Pandemic Funds End, K-12 Systems Must Look for Bold Changes (The Hechinger Report, August 19, 2024)

EVENTS

Finally, below is a list of upcoming events and recaps of recent panel presentations and podcasts that elevate critical conversations in the youth career readiness space.

REGISTER TO ATTEND

• New Pathways to Real-World Learning Experiences (Kansas City, September 17-19 – Learn more)

• Culture Shifting Summit 2024 (New York, October 24-25 – Learn more)

• SOCAP 2024 (San Francisco, October 28-30 – Learn more)

• AMLE 2024 (Nashville, November 6-9 – Learn more)

EVENT RECAPS

• Intermediaries: The Behind-the-Scenes Magic Makers of Tech Work-based Learning (Read the recap)

• Believing in the Potential of a Career Readiness Utopia (Read the recap)

Too many young people are leaving high school without clarity on where they’re going next or how to get there. In fact, less than half of Gen Z respondents in one of our latest surveys said they had enough information to decide what post-high school pathway was best for them.

They face a vast array of degree and nondegree options—including certificate programs, apprenticeships, short-term credentials, and professional licenses— but little information on which paths lead to meaningful, quality jobs and careers.

That’s why we’re working alongside our partner Jobs for the Future (JFF) to change this! We are proud to announce a $25 million, multiyear investment to fund the creation of the ASA Center for Career Navigation at JFF. This work will empower people ages 16-24 to better prepare for and navigate quality education and career pathways after high school. The new center aims to lead the field in career navigation for high school students and young people who are neither in school nor employed, with a goal of helping 20 million young learners by 2030. (Read the press release).

Fortunately, stories abound of students who are getting the memo about in-demand jobs and the postsecondary education pathways that can take them there. Students in Maine, for example, are completing pre-apprenticeships in high-paying trade occupations while still in high school, in a program that can eventually see them earning degrees through the state’s community college system. (Read the story.) A similar initiative in South Carolina is allowing high schoolers to complete apprenticeships in law enforcement. (Read the story.) Rhode Island high schoolers are completing on-campus internships at Brown University while connecting with industry mentors in diverse fields. (Read the story.) And, Tennessee teens are becoming certified for construction jobs through a program that will see them boosting their earning power before they’ve even graduated. (Read the story.)

I hope you’ll be as inspired as I am by these examples of schools and employers who are breaking the mold. I wish you a pleasant remainder of your summer and will see you back here for our Back to School edition in August!

Sincerely,

Jean

P.S. - If you’d like to reach me directly, I’d love to hear from you. Email me at press@asa.org

ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY NEWS & RESEARCH

Epic Solutions: Building Career Readiness Through Real-World Projects (U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Newsroom, June 20, 2024)

U.S. Confidence in Higher Education Now Closely Divided (Gallup, July 8, 2024)

Summer Jobs Program at Rural Library Helps Students Discover Career Path (Montgomery Adviser, July 11, 2024)

NM High Schoolers Excel in Career Technical Education (Source NM, July 11, 2024)

New Research Findings Show Connections between Youth National Service and Workforce Readiness (Globe Newswire, July 10, 2024)

The Pathway to Career Readiness for All? Through Core Curriculum (Smart Brief, May 11, 2024)

EVENTS

Finally, below is a list of upcoming events and recaps of recent panel presentations and podcasts that elevate critical conversations in the youth career readiness space.

REGISTER TO ATTEND

• New Pathways to Real-World Learning Experiences (Kansas City, September 17-19 – Learn more)

• Culture Shifting Summit 2024 (New York, October 24-25 – Learn more)

• SOCAP 2024 (San Francisco, October 28-30 – Learn more)

EVENT RECAPS

• Identity: The Other Side of Career Readiness (Read the recap)

• How Innovation Bridges the Gap Between Learning and Earning (Read the recap)

• When it Comes to Career Exploration, Middle School is Prime Time. Are States Getting the Message? (Read the recap)

The school summer holidays are well underway. And while I’m excited about the launch of countless readiness and exploration programs this past year, I’m also pausing to reflect upon a vitally important part of this work: measuring success. With the U.S. spending nearly half a trillion dollars on public education, it is paramount that we know how—and how well—career readiness initiatives are serving young people. To that end, we recently funded and published a new report with Education Strategy Group (ESG) that examines how states are exploring new ways to measure and support the long-term success of students in their reporting, accountability, and incentive systems. The main takeaway? States are doing great work, but generally could be drawing stronger and longer-term connections between what happens in K-12 and postsecondary outcomes in order to ensure K-12 accountability and a clearer picture of how schools are enabling or hindering economic mobility. (Read the report or catch the highlights in this press release.) Only when schools and organizations have this picture can they accurately target their work to address specific gaps and shortcomings.

The really good news? There’s a ton of movement and activity to measure. Every month brings new stories of highly effective programs that are closing the gap between learning and earning, like this mentorship program in Nashville that connects nurses with students who hope to pursue healthcare professions. (Read the story.) In Nebraska, more businesses are being urged to launch youth apprenticeships to bolster an already thriving work-based learning landscape in the state. (Read the story.) And, the Tech Ready Apprentices for Careers in Kentucky (TRACK) program is giving young people the chance to get hands-on work experience in high-demand fields before graduation. (Read the story.)

There are also powerful stories of individuals who are changing the career exploration and readiness landscape, or who have found success by following their own pathway. Like Ranjita Bhagwan, now a principal engineer at Google, who is a shining example how a love of STEM can be nurtured from a young age. (Read Ranjita’s story.) Or, like Hinrik Jósafat Atlason, who developed an AI-powered audio assistant to make classroom material more accessible. Atlason’s AI-powered tutoring is also available to teens through ASA’s free EvolveMe® platform. (Read Hinrik’s story or visit ASA EvolveMe®.) And, like our own Clay Colarusso, who has worked tirelessly over the past six years to help ASA bring free digital career exploration resources to millions of teens, meeting them where they are and helping them focus on building their own paths. (Read Clay’s interview.)

I wish you all a relaxing summer holiday season. No matter your role in the education ecosystem, I urge you to take the time to pause your work, reflect upon what you’ve done, and measure your outcomes. They’re probably more remarkable than you think!

Sincerely,

Jean

P.S. - If you’d like to reach me directly, I’d love to hear from you. Email me at press@asa.org

ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY NEWS & RESEARCH

The State of Career and Technical Education, in Charts (Education Week, June 3, 2024)

Poll Shows Overwhelming Demand for Skilled Trades Classes in LA County High Schools (Harbor Freight, June 1, 2024)

Long Term Program Impact: Alumni Voice (Apprentice Learning, May 21, 2024)

Summit School District Sees Uptick in Extracurricular, Career Readiness Course Enrollment as it Eyes More Work Ahead (Summit Daily, June 4, 2024)

College & Career Ready: Orange Cove High Receives High Marks for Setting Students Up for Success (ABC30, June 4, 2024)

CAPS Network Selects First Cohort for $951K Initiative Toward Rural Kansas Learning Expansion (Startland News, June 4, 2024)

EVENTS

Finally, below is a list of upcoming events and recaps of recent panel presentations and podcasts that elevate critical conversations in the youth career readiness space.

REGISTER TO ATTEND

• U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation EPIC Summer Meeting 2024 (Washington, D.C., June 20 - Learn more)

• 2024 Summer Huddle in Kansas City - CAPS Network (Kansas City, June 24-26 - Learn more)

• Uncharted Learning National Summit (Chicago, July 15-17 - Learn more)

• Horizons Summit (Washington, D.C., July 22-23 - Learn more)

• Big Bang Conference 2024 (Memphis, July 22-25 - Learn more)

• New Pathways to Real-World Learning Experiences (Kansas City, September 17-19 - Learn more)

EVENT RECAPS

• How Can Tech Increase Equitable Access to Career Readiness Resources? (Read the recap)

• Going Beyond Degrees: Where We Stand, and Where We’re Headed (Read the recap)

This month we published a new report showing that while most employers (86% of our respondents) believe that high school interns strengthen their talent pipeline, they are also experiencing substantial barriers to launching and scheduling youth internship programs. Their top barriers? Figuring out what work is best suited for interns, recruiting qualified interns, and scheduling around interns’ availability. I get it! It may seem challenging to bring in people with virtually no work experience who are studying full-time, all while remaining focused on running a business. Yet, we (and our respondents) know that building bridges between learning and earning through youth work-based learning programs can bring substantial benefits to students and employers alike. In other words, despite initial barriers, high school internships are ultimately shown to yield a strong return-on-investment—even for employers. (Read the press release for the highlights, or read the full report for the details.)

This month we’re hard at work promoting stronger, earlier bridges between education and the workforce, and I’m inspired to see so many others are doing the same. I wrote last month about rapper Common launching the Free to Dream campaign. (In case you missed it, read this article.) Getting Smart just launched a really useful interactive handbook that cites passages from my debut book in order to explain the concept of “New Pathways” and help students and parents get started. (See their handbook and get my book.)

Career readiness programs continue to gain traction around the country, affirming our belief that everyone deserves, and can have, their own “bridge.” The Oceanside School District launched the ACE Program to provide career readiness experiences to special education students. (Read the story.) More than 700 Illinois students had the chance to explore STEAM careers in the states first CareerSpark STEAM Expo. (Read the story.) Students in Kentucky are getting access to youth apprenticeship programs in a wide variety of tracks, like technology and teaching. (Read the story.)

I’m always on the lookout for these stories. Even stories about a single class, school, or district motivate me—because I truly believe that every single child holds limitless potential to make their life, and our world, better.

Sincerely,

Jean

P.S. - If you’d like to reach me directly, I’d love to hear from you. Email me at press@asa.org

ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY NEWS & RESEARCH

Keys to a Crisis-Proof, Diverse Talent Pipeline? Innovative Youth Work-Based Learning Solutions. (American Student Assistance Newsroom, May 22, 2024)

Youth Apprenticeship Week Highlights Career Pathways for Young Workers (Department of Labor Newsroom, May 9, 2024)

Work, Community College, and Work-Based Learning: Avoiding False Choices (New America, May 10, 2024)

Schools Face Diminished Capacity to Meet Student Mental Health Needs (K12 Dive, May 10, 2024)

High School Students, Frustrated by Lack of Climate Education, Push for Change (Associated Press, May 8, 2024)

EVENTS

Finally, below is a list of upcoming events and recaps of recent panel presentations and podcasts that elevate critical conversations in the youth career readiness space.

REGISTER TO ATTEND

• 2024 Summer Huddle in Kansas City - CAPS Network (Kansas City, June 24-26 - Learn more)

• Uncharted Learning National Summit (Chicago, July 15-17 - Learn more)

• Horizons Summit (Washington, D.C., July 22-23 - Learn more)

• Big Bang Conference 2024 (Memphis, July 22-25 - Learn more)

EVENT RECAPS

• Wielding AI to Help the World: A Tale of Two Teen Entrepreneurs (Read the recap)

• Harnessing AI Tech to Prepare Youth for Career Success (Read the recap)

Sincerely,

Jean

P.S. If you’d like to reach me directly, I’d love to hear from you. Email me at press@asa.org

Today, the U.S. is home to five million opportunity youth—those neither in school nor the workforce—and around 700,000 young people who are currently or formerly incarcerated. Career readiness initiatives that engage and empower kids from a young age can’t be optional any more; they’re part of a national imperative. Research shows that students who drop out of high school or those at risk of dropping out face stark life outcomes, including higher rates of poverty, justice system involvement, dependency on social welfare programs, and beyond. (See the research.) Yet, there’s so much hope on the horizon.

Today’s kids have a powerful array of diverse career exploration and postsecondary pathways to choose from. Work-study programs—increasingly common in schools—promise to bring greater relevance to classroom education, which is especially important for kids who are at risk of dropping out. We also know that durable skills-building programs, like the initiatives happening through a partnership between America Succeeds and Edmentum, mean more young people can discover and follow their dreams. (Read the story.) Equally exciting: the skilled trades—like welding and machine tooling— are shedding dated and negative stereotypes and becoming increasingly attractive to young people as technology transforms these professions and as postsecondary pathways help connect more people to the trades. (Read the story.)

At ASA, we’re still hard at work building momentum around career readiness initiatives. This month we announced a partnership with nonprofit FREE TO DREAM, founded by Grammy Award-winning artist and activist Common, to boost access to invaluable skills-building experiences. (Read the press release.) We’ve also announced plans to invest $25 million over the next five years in mission-aligned companies that support career readiness. (Learn more.) And, our EvolveMe platform now includes activities to help young people with vitally important skills like resume-writing, job interviewing, financial literacy, professional coding, and more. (Learn more.)

Despite alarming statistics about opportunity youth in the U.S., we’re not deterred from our work. If anything, we’re more determined than ever. With the support and partnership of so many incredible organizations, entrepreneurs, and forward-thinking school districts, we know that we can build a brighter future for Gen-Z youth, and for kids who aren’t even in school yet. It’s my fervent belief that every single kid, no matter their location or circumstances, deserves the power of a dream.

Sincerely,

Jean

P.S. - If you’d like to reach me directly, I’d love to hear from you. Email me at press@asa.org

ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY NEWS & RESEARCH

ASU+GSV 2024: Experts Call for Middle School Career Exploration (Government Technology, April 18, 2024)

Utah Juvenile Justice System Program Provides Job Skills (KSL News Radio, April 1, 2024)

New Haven Gets $1M Grant to Help Students Prepare for Jobs (WTNH, April 13, 2024)

Colorado Needs to Strengthen College and Career Connections for Students, Report Says (Chalkbeat Colorado, April 2, 2024)

K-12 Work-Based Learning Opportunities: A 50-State Scan of 2023 Legislative Action (American Progress, April 1, 2024)

EVENTS

Finally, below is a list of upcoming events and recaps of recent panel presentations and podcasts that elevate critical conversations in the youth career readiness space.

REGISTER TO ATTEND

-A Path Forward: Innovative Solutions to Build a Modern Workforce for Gen-Z (Webinar, April 30 @ 1PM ET - Register)
-2024 Summer Huddle in Kansas City - CAPS Network (Kansas City, June 24-26 - Learn more)
-Uncharted Learning National Summit (Chicago, July 15-17 - Learn more)
-Horizons Summit (Washington, D.C., July 22-23 - Learn more)
-Big Bang Conference 2024 (Memphis, July 22-25 - Learn more)

RECAPS

-Investing in the Next Generation of the Workforce (Read the recap)
-The Credentialing Conversation: Four Sound Bites (Read the recap)

Sincerely,

Jean

P.S. - If you’d like to reach me directly, I’d love to hear from you. Email me at press@asa.org

This month I’m excited to share a new report we’ve published entitled Extending the Runway: A 50-State Analysis of Middle School Career Exploration. (Read our report.) We learned that some 73% of states identified middle school career exploration as an important component of a student’s education. While there is a lot of work to be done on the programmatic side and in measuring outcomes, I want to focus on that data point, because it gives me great hope. When it comes to the value of career exploration, teachers are getting it. School leaders are getting it. And soon, many more students will get it, too. In 2023, some 47 states enacted 115 policies on career and technical education and career readiness, with a vast majority of them aimed at K-12 schools. (Read the report.) States are getting the message: career exploration programming in school is really, really important, and it works. We’re eagerly matching our belief in career readiness with funding: we’ve just announced more than $6 million in grants to increase access to career readiness programming. (Read the press release.)

What do career exploration and experimentation programs look like in action around the country? Inspiring examples abound, proving that, no matter how small, any program can have a profound impact on lives and communities:

This exciting initiative in Helena Public Schools lets sixth-graders explore a wide range of workplaces without leaving their community. (Read the story.) Wisconsin shattered historic records for the number of apprentices in 2023, thanks in large part to funding that supports youth apprenticeships. (Read the story.) Indiana is turning to Switzerland for inspiration as it builds its own ambitious youth apprenticeship program, working closely with Ivy Tech Community College. (Read the story.) In an initiative called Leaders Inspiring the Faces of Tomorrow (LIFT), fifty middle schoolers in Louisiana are being paired with mentors from the 100 Black Men of Baton Rouge organization for sessions throughout the school year. (Read the story.) And, the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize initiative will see a total of $1.5 million awarded to 25 U.S. public high school skilled trades teachers. (Learn about the prize.)

All of these are fantastic initiatives, but it’s the eloquent case for career exploration made by Brian Harrison, a high school teacher in North Carolina, that really drives it home for me. He writes that, “What inspires me most isn’t just knowing that my students enjoy this new approach, but that I can use it as another tool in my belt for equipping them for their futures. Together, we can move the needle for the next generation and ensure they feel prepared for their next steps after high school.” (Read his article.)

Additional Industry News & Research:

Social Impact Authors: How & Why Author Jean Eddy of American Student Assistance Is Helping To Change Our World (Medium.com, March 3, 2024)

BUILD.org and Comcast NBCUniversal Announce “FamBiz,” a Groundbreaking Entrepreneurship Simulation Game Created to Empower Educators and Students (BusinessWire, March 6, 2024)

Proposed DC Bills Aim to Prevent Youth Crime with Jobs, Mentorship and Attendance (NBCWashington.com, February 28, 2024)

Start Your Career Search Before High School (The Wall Street Journal, March 11, 2024)

Extending the Runway: A 50-State Analysis of Middle School Career Exploration (CTE Policy Watch Blog, March 18, 2024)

Events

Finally, below is a list of upcoming events and recaps of recent panel presentations and podcasts that elevate critical conversations in the youth career readiness space.

Register to Attend:

-ASU+GSV Summit (San Diego, April 14-17, 2024 - Learn more)
-Horizons (Washington, D.C., July 22-23, 2024 - Learn more)
-Big Bang Conference 2024 (Memphis, July 22-25 - Learn more)

Recaps

-For Gen Z: Doing Well, Doing Good, and Having Autonomy are Key (Read the recap)
-If You See It, You Can be It: My Conversation with Ramona Schindelheim on the WorkingNation Podcast (Read the recap)
-The Credentialing Conversation: Four Sound Bites (Read the recap)

Sincerely,

Jean

P.S. - If you’d like to reach me directly, I’d love to hear from you. Email me at press@asa.org

I’m excited to share with you some groundbreaking research that we, together with Jobs for the Future (JFF), released this month. We’ve long known that nondegree pathways from education to the workforce hold promise for leveling the educational and workforce playing fields in our country. Our new research confirms that diverse options—like apprenticeships, microcredentials, internships, bootcamps, and certification programs—are of great interest to students, parents, and educators. These pathways are shown to boost peoples’ employability, earning power, skills, and confidence. Yet, the survey reveals that most people still know little about them, and adults haven’t felt equipped to explore them with the young people in their lives. (Read the story and find the link to the report, or, read Inside Higher Ed’s coverage of the report.) Taking this research a step further, we worked with JFF to build a Pathfinder Guide and Checklist that gives parents, students and educators a practical starting point for conversations about nondegree pathways. (Get the guide.)

This month is also Career and Technical Education (CTE) month. I’ve been inspired to see so many stories about states building stronger links between education and the workforce. For example, the EquipMS Grant program in Mississippi is giving dozens of schools the chance to modernize, replace, or enhance their CTE programs. (Read the story.) The New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools (NJCCVTS) has published an impressive fact sheet about the value of CTE across the state’s districts, which can serve as inspiration for any state looking to boost its own CTE initiatives. (Read the fact sheet.) And, a national initiative between public schools and health systems is looking to create healthcare-centric high schools around the country that can see students graduate into lucrative careers in the field. (Read the story.)

At ASA, we have entered into a 10-year strategic alliance with the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship to give people in underserved communities increased access to entrepreneurship education—an important aspect of career readiness. (Read the story.) We’ve also established an innovation fellowship to improve career readiness outcomes for teens; proposals are welcome through the end of April. (Learn about it.)

Finally, below is a list of upcoming events and recaps of recent panel presentations that elevate critical conversations in the youth career readiness space.

SXSW EDU (Austin, March 4-7, 2024 - Learn more)
Transform (Wynn, Las Vegas, March 11-13, 2024 - Learn more)
Webinar: Success Redefined: How Gen Z Is Redefining Success Through Nondegree Paths (March 14, 2024 at 1:00 PM - Register here)
ASU+GSV Summit (San Diego, April 14-17, 2024 - Learn more)
If You See It, You Can be It: My Conversation with Ramona Schindelheim on the WorkingNation Podcast (Read the recap)
The Credentialing Conversation: Four Sound Bites (Read the recap)

Sincerely,

Jean

P.S. - If you’d like to reach me directly, I’d love to hear from you. Email me at press@asa.org

Happy New Year! I’ll cut to the chase: I’m thrilled to share with you a brand new resource — a digital career exploration playbook for middle schoolers and the adults who care for them. This playbook, which you can find here, is the result of our collaboration with the Association for Middle Level Educators (AMLE). It’s designed to help adults have conversations with kids about their interests, passions, and possible pathways they can pursue. Check it out, share it with the teachers, parents, and education-minded folks in your life, and feel free to join us for a webinar about it on February 13th. (Register here.)

Beyond that, here are a few things I’ve been reading about and am inspired by:

The Gear Up for Life initiative in Oklahoma is bringing in select mentors and tutors to ensure kids in high-poverty schools can graduate and become motivated about their futures. Certainly an inspiring story, given it’s National Mentoring Month! (Read the story.)

Catalyze grantee nXu has created a research-based middle and high school curriculum that uses a purpose-based model to get kids thinking about their interests, strengths, passions, and possible careers. (Read the story.)

The Baldwin public school district has launched an academy model across STEM, education, global business, government, law, media, and fine and performing arts that has seen a 97% graduation rate! (Read the story.)

Washougal High School senior Gabby McCormick shares her experiences using edtech platform YouScience to confirm a career path and learn the skills she’ll need to to follow her passion in interior design. (Read Gabby’s story.)

Research from Pew confirms a trending decline in college enrollments, and that fewer men are attending college than before. (Read the research.)

Lastly, below is a list of upcoming events and recaps of recent panel presentations that elevate critical conversations in the youth career readiness space.

SXSW EDU (Austin, March 4-7, 2024)
Transform (Wynn, Las Vegas, March 11-13, 2024)
ASU+GSV Summit (San Diego, April 14-17, 2024)
The Credentialing Conversation: Four Sound Bites (an event recap)
Entrepreneurial Education for the Collective Win (an event recap)

Sincerely,

Jean

P.S. - If you’d like to reach me directly, I’d love to hear from you. Email me at press@asa.org